The company's results for the third quarter of 2016 showed that passenger numbers were down 10 per cent compared with last year and sales revenues were 8 per cent lower year-on-year.

The operator said that following a period in which demand was dampened by the terrorist attack in Nice in July, passenger numbers have increased over the past eight weeks compared with the same period in 2015.

Eurostar chief executive Nicolas Petrovic commented: "After a softening in demand over the summer, we saw an increase in travel from the continent to London during the half-term holiday.

"With the weakening of the pound, the UK is proving to be an attractive destination. The outlook to the end of the year is encouraging, with many travellers taking day trips to London to do their Christmas shopping.

"Over the coming months, we are making a major investment in our fleet, our service and our stations to equip our business for expansion.

"The launch of our Amsterdam route at the end of next year marks a key milestone and represents a significant growth opportunity for the future."

Eurostar connects London with Paris, Lille, Marseille, Avignon and Lyon in France, and Brussels and Bruges in Belgium. All trains travel through the Channel Tunnel between England and France.